Cable gripping coupler



April 1, 1969 F. I. STEWART CABLE GRIPPING COUPLER Sheet Filed June 1, 1967 Felix Stewart IN VENTOR.

April 1969 I F. STEWART 3,435,782

CABLE GRIPPING COUPLER Filed June 1, 1967 v Sheet 3 of2 6+ 7+ F lg. 2 I? 2 4 l w 4 I /6'4 26-" 3 40 60 H Felix Stewart INVENTOR.

BY Mae/5:

WWW Em United States Patent 9 3,435,782 CABLE GRIPPING COUPLER Felix I. Stewart, Petersburg, Tenn. (121 Earl St. SW., Huntsville, Ala. 35805) Filed June 1, 1967, Ser. No. 642,877 Int. Cl. B61]: 7/20 US. Cl. 104220 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A device for transmitting force from a cable extending between two wedges slidably mounted by holders pivotally secured to a block, the cable being clamped between the jaws of the wedges when exerting a pull in one direction. The holders are held in clamping positions or displaced to release positions by a linkage arrangement that may be automatically actuated.

This invention relates to automatically actuatable devices through which force may be transmitted from a moving cable to any movable load to which the device is secured, such devices being commonly referred to as comealongs.

In devices of the type to which the present invention pertains, a cable is usually clamped between the jaws of wedge members in response to a pull exerted in one direction along the cable. In such devices, release of the wedges from the cable is quite difficult particularly when substantially high forces are being transmitted. The present invention therefore copes with the problem of releasing the cable from a come-along device in such a manner as to accommodate rapid release and yet permit reengagement of the cable with reliability. The come-along device of the present invention therefore lends itself admirably to automatically controlled release and reengaging controls.

In accordance with the foregoing, the come-along device of the present invention features a block or base on which a pair of wedge holders are pivotally mounted, the holders being operatively interconnected by a linkage arrangement whereby they may be held in operative clamping positions or readily displaced to release positions without interfering with the wedge members that are slidably mounted in operative relation to the cable. In the clamping positions of the holders, the jaws of the wedges are disposed in parallel spaced relation to each other for uniform engagement with the cable causing the wedge members to move toward each other in a clamping direction when a pull is exerted in one direction on the cable. In the release positions of the Wedge holders, the wedge members are withdrawn from engagement with the cable permitting movement of the wedge members under the bias of return springs to reset positions. Thus, the wedge holders may then be returned to the clamping positions.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, :wherein like m1- merals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view showing the comealong device itself.

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view of the device shown in FIGURE 1 in an engaged condition.

FIGURE 3 is a front elevational view of the come-along device in a disengaged condition.

FIGURE 4 is an end view of the come-along device.

FIGURE 5 is a partial rear elevational view of the come-along device.

FIGURE '6 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 66 in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 7 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 7.-7 in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view showing one typical installation for the come-along device of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, FIGURE 1 illustrates the come-along device generally referred to by reference numeral 10, the component parts of which are mounted on a base 12 in the form of a rectangular block. It should be appreciated, that the base 12 may take various shapes and forms and is adapted to be secured to some load to which force or motion is to be imparted by means of a cable, such as the cable 14 shown in FIG- URES 2 through 8.

lPivotally mounted on one side of the base 12 adjacent one longitudinal end 16 of the base, are a pair of wedge holders 18 and 20, each wedge holder being pivotally mounted on the base by means of a pivot bolt assembly 22. Each wedge holder includes an elongated outer edge 24 extending between an inwardly projecting pivot portion 26 through which the pivot bolt assembly 22 extends and the end portion 28 disposed adjacent to the longitudinal end 30 of the base opposite the end 16. For-med along the inner longitudinal edges of the holders 18 and 20 between the pivot portions 26 and the end portions 28, are T-shaped groove tracks 32 within which a pair of wedge members 34 and 36 are slidably mounted. The wedge members are accordingly movable along the tracks 32 from a reset position as shown in FIGURES 1 and 3 to a clamping position as shown in FIGURE 2. The Wedge holders 1 8 and 20 are also held in either engaging positions as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 or in disengaging positions as shown in FIGURE 3 by means of a selectively actuated linkage arangement 38 projecting from opposite sides of the base 12 adjacent end 30.

As more clearly seen in FIGURES 2 and 6, each of the wedge members is slidably keyed to its associated wedge holder by means of the T-shaped track 32 so that when. the wedge members are displaced in a clamping direction toward the ends 28 of the holders, they will move toward each other into clamping engagement with the cable if the holders are in engaging positions. Thus, the tracks 32 converge toward each other from the pivot end portions 26 toward the end portions 28 when the holders are in the engaging positions as shown in FIGURE 2. The wedge members are provided with replaceable insert jaws 40 secured in place by fasteners 42, the jaws being formed with longitudinal engaging grooves between which the cable 14 extends. Thus, when the cable is engaged between the jaws of the wedge members, and a pull is exerted thereon through the cable in a right hand clamping direction as viewed in FIGURE 2, the wedge members will tend to more firmly grip the cable as they are axially displaced by the cable toward the ends 28 of the wedge holders along the converging tracks 32. On the other hand, when the wedge members are withdrawn from engagement with the cable as shown in FIGURE 3, the tracks 32 are disposed substantially parallel to each other so that the wedge members may be moved to the reset positions shown in FIGURE 3 in a direction opposite to the clamping direction. The wedge members are biased to the reset positions by means of reset springs 44 disposed within the tracks reacting between the wedge members and the pins 46 extending transversely through the track grooves adjacent the ends 28 of the wedge holders.

As hereinbefore indicated, the wedge holders are held in either the engaging positions shown in FIGURE 2 or in the disengaging positions shown in FIGURE 3 by means of the linkage arrangement 38. The linkage arrangement includes a pair of crank members 48 and 50 rotatably mounted by the base .12 adjacent the end 30. The crank members 48 and 50 are provided with flanges 52 exposed on one side of the base 12 to which the opposite ends of a connecting link 54 are pivotally connected as more clearly seen in FIGURE 5. The cranks 48 and 50 are interconnected by the connecting link at locations spaced apart by 180 relative to the rotational axes of the cranks so that angular displacement of one of the cranks will produce equal displacement of the other crank in the same direction. An actuating arm 56 is connected to the flange portion 52 associated with one of the cranks 50 through which both of the cranks may be angularly displaced by means of any suitable mechanism such as the actuating member 58 shown in FIGURE 3. The cranks 48 and 50 are accordingly angularly displaced between limit positions less than 180 apart in order to pivotally displace the Wedge holders 18 and 20 between the engaging and disengaging positions. Toward this end, the cranks 48 and 50 are respectively provided with crankpins 60 and 62 that are secured to the cranks at appropriate locations, the crankpins respectively extending through slots 64 and 66 formed in the Wedge holders adjacent to the ends 28. Thus, the crankpins 60 and 62 move from one end of the slots to the opposite ends in order to pivotally displace the wedge holders between the engaging and disengaging positions in response to angular displacement of the cranks between the limit positions thereof.

From the foregoing description, the construction and operation of the come-along device will be apparent. It will be appreciated therefore, that firm engagement of the cable 14 is achieved when the wedge members 34 and 36 are displaced by the cable from a reset position adjacent to the pivot portions 26 of the wedge holders when the jaws 40 are held by the wedge holders substantially parallel to each other. The wedge holders are held in this position with their tracks 32 converging in the clamping direction by the means of the linkage arrangement 38. The force with which the wedge members grip the cable will, therefore, increase with the axial force transmitted. Rapid disengagement of the cable is however achieved when the wedge holders are pivotally displaced away from each other by means of the linkage arrangement thereby withdrawing the jaws of the wedge members from engagement with the cable. In the disengaging positions of the wedge holders, the tracks 32 are substantially parallel to each other so that the withdrawn wedge members will not move into engagement with the cable and will be biased to the reset positions by means of the reset springs 44. Accordingly, the wedge members will be in positions for permitting full displacement of the wedge holders to the engaging positions before the cable is fully gripped by the jaws. Thus, rapid disengagement of the come-along device from the cable is accommodated as well as proper reengagement. The device will accordingly be useful in transmitting relatively large forces to loads such as the material loading cart 68 shown in FIGURE 8. The come-along device is accordingly secured to and projects below the cart frame 70 which is mounted for movement on the track 72 by means of the wheels 74. As long as the come-along device 10 is engaged with the cable, movement may be imparted by the cable to the cart which may be stopped at any desired station along the track 72 by automatic disengagement of the come-along device through the linkage arrangement 38 as aforementioned. It will of course be appreciated that the come-along device may be utilized in many other installational arrangements.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In combination with a cable, a selectively controlled device for transmitting force exerted by the cable in one axial direction comprising, a base, a pair of holders pivotally mounted on the base, wedge members engageable with the cable to transmit said force to the base, means slidably mounting the wedge members on the holders for movement in a clamping direction in response to engagement of the cable by the wedge members, and actuating means operatively connected to said holders for selective displacement thereof away from the cable withdrawing the wedge members therefrom to permit reset movement thereof in a direction opposite to said clamping direction.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said slidable mounting means includes tracks mounted on the holder converging toward the cable in said axial direction in which force is transmitted and reset means mounted in the tracks biasing the wedge members in said direction opposite to the clamping direction.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said actuating means comprises a pair of crank elements mounted by the base, pin and slot means respectively interconnecting the crank elements with the holders for displacement thereof between engaging positions in which said tracks converge and disengaging positions in which said tracks are substantially parallel to each other, a connecting link interconnecting said crank elements and an actuating arm connected to one of the crank elements.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said wedge members include cable engaging jaw surfaces positioned substantially parallel to each other by the holders in the engaging positions thereof.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said holders include pivot portions mounted on the base axially spaced from the actuating means along the cable, said wedge members being slidably displaceable axially between the pivot portions and the actuating means on opposite lateral sides of the cable.

6. The combination of claim 1 wherein said holders include pivot portions mounted on thte base axially spaced from the actuating means along the cable, said wedge members being slidably displaceable axially between the pivot portions and the actuating means on opposite lateral sides of the cable.

7. The combination of claim 1 wherein said actuating means comprises a pair of crank elements mounted by the base, pin and slot means respectively interconnecting the crank elements with the holders for displacement thereof between engaging positions and disengaging positions, a connecting link interconnecting said crank elements and an acuating arm connected to one of the crank elements.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein said wedge members include cable engaging jaw surfaces positioned substantially parallel to each other by the holders in the engaging positions thereof.

9. In combination with a force transmitting element, a come-along device comprising a base to which force is transmitted from the element in one driection, a pair of holders pivotally mounted on the base, wedge members engageable with the element to transmit said force to the base, means slidably mounting the wedge members on the holders for movement in a clamping direction in response to engagement of the element by the Wedge members, and actuating means operatively connected to said holders for selective displacement thereof away from the element withdrawing the wedge members therefrom to permit reset movement thereof in a direction opposite to said clamping direction.

10. The combination of claim 9 wherein said actuating means comprises a pair of cranks mounted by the base, pin and slot means respectively interconnecting the cranks with the holders for displacement thereof between engaging positions in which said slidable mounting means converge and disengaging positions in which said slidable mounting means are substantially parallel to each other, a connecting link interconnecting said cranks and an actuating arm connected to one of the cranks.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 598,741 2/1898 Norton 104222 614,380 11/1898 Frigard 104-214 ARTHUR L. LA POINT, Primary Examiner.

D. F. WORTH, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 

